A recent study by the IAM Motoring Trust found that under 25 year old drivers make up only 9% of all licence holders but are involved in almost 25% of all crashes that cause death or injury (that’s 1 in 4 crashes!). There are several reasons for this dramatically high crash and injury rate, most of which can be substantially reduced.

The basic facts about New and Young Drivers

• 135 teenage drivers were killed on UK roads in 2007; another thousand were seriously injured and ten thousand slightly injured.

• One in five drivers has an accident in the first year of driving.

• Nearly 15,000 teenage passengers were casualties in road accidents in 2006. 167 were killed. Many of these would have been in cars driven by teenage drivers.

• Teenage females of driving age are 33 per cent more likely to be killed or seriously injured while travelling as passengers than as drivers. Males of the same age are 50 per cent more likely to be killed as drivers than passengers.

The Drive 4 Quality Young Driver Improvement Course substantially reduces the risk of an injury crash by giving delegates the confidence, ability, skill, knowledge and responsibility to drive safely in today’s demanding road conditions.

All training adopts recognised defensive and advanced procedures based on the Police Roadcraft “System of Car Control” where delegates will be taught the latest techniques incorporating advanced observation links through a number of modules.

Although the “Drive 4 Quality Young Driver Improvement Course” covers a much wider syllabus then the nationally recognised “PassPlus” course, all delegates on successful completion will be accredited with a pass plus certificate as well as a Drive 4 Quality Driver Improvement Certificate to enable them to take advantage of insurance discounts from a number of companies. It is possible this discount will offset much of the initial course cost.

Please contact us for more information.

Worried about a Younger Driver?

10 tips from the AA to help

Most young drivers are safe. Only a significant minority of young drivers (about 35 per cent) could be considered to be unsafe drivers.

It isn't always inexperience. There are two problems, inexperience and deliberate bad driving – aimed at either "impressing" friends or gaining a thrill through risk taking. Inexperience is probably the less serious threat to a young driver, especially if they accept they are still learning. Young drivers are particularly at risk in the early hours of the morning when, per mile driven, a 'young male' is seventeen times more likely to have an accident as the average male. But the accident risk amongst young males in the earlier evening is much lower which tends to suggest that it's how they drive rather than inexperience at driving in the dark which is the main problem.

The show-off and the risk-taker. Young people – men particularly – like to show off when driving. This means that they are generally less safe with friends/passengers in the car. Research suggests that both sexes show off more to young male passengers than to young women. Some youngsters find it "cool" not to wear a seat belt – yet it cuts the chance of being killed in a crash by a half.

It's not only about driving ability. Drink, drugs, and high spirits all add up to make young drivers take risks. Any is dangerous alone whilst the combination is the main explanation for the high risk of accidents late at night.

"Egging on" adds to the problem – passengers who've also been drinking and having fun can pressure drivers into taking risks they wouldn't normally take. Passengers just shouldn't apply this pressure – the risk to passengers is every bit as large – and drivers have to fight hard not to conform.

Spotting a likely bad driver. This isn't easy, but many youngsters can easily be characterised as "the show-off type". Similarly, some quiet, unassuming people can change behind the wheel – after years of being quiet at school, poor at sport and a failure with the girls, driving gives them a whole new way to become "popular". Obviously drivers who have been drinking, or taking drugs are a particular danger.

Don't get in – or ask to get out. If you don't think a driver is going to be safe – perhaps because he is drunk, there's no need to get into his car. Similarly if his driving is poor or is scaring you, ask to get out. This can often be enough to make a driver change the way he drives.

Country roads aren't safe roads. Much bad driving by young people – particularly showing-off and risk-taking – happens on country roads. This leads to many head on collisions, and collisions with trees, both of which are all too often fatal.

Inexperience – there has to be a first time. Even a driver with hours of professional driving instruction and many more practising with Dad and Mum has to take a passenger of his or her own age for the first time. Passengers can help by being quiet and understanding rather than encouraging the driver to drive in a way he or she doesn't want to. It's best to be progressive – start with one responsible friend and slowly move on to carrying multiple passengers. Driving instruction doesn't prepare you for chatting and driving.

Mum and Dad's rescue service. Both young drivers and their passengers need to be able to 'opt out' whilst parents have to balance authority with keeping their offspring safe. The ideal is an agreement to "rescue" the youngster – should he or she either be unable to drive or not want to come home with a driver. Many youngsters find themselves facing a choice between the wrath of their parents or driving home drunk/getting a lift with a bad or drunk driver. An "I'll collect you, no questions asked" approach may be the safest way.